How to Best Prepare Fresh Columbia River Walleye

When in the Columbia River, you might catch a walleye or two, along with many other types of fish! They are pretty popular around the area and are best to target between the spring and summer months, during the warmer days. If you caught your trophy and plan to show it off during your next meal with family and friends, the question is: How do you cook it?

The options are limitless! If you want a unique and delicious dish to impress everyone with your cooking and fishing skills, read on! I’ll be showing you how to best prepare Fresh Columbia River Walleye with these 3 easy and yummy recipes.

How to Best Prepare Fresh Columbia River Walleye

The Columbia River is one of the most popular areas for walleye fishing. As long as you follow the rules and regulations when fishing for walleye, you can bring home fish to prepare as a dish! And of course, you have to know when to go, as well as the techniques and gear to use when fishing for walleye.

What’s amazing about the walleye is that there are so many ways to prepare it! Here are some of the yummy recipes when you want to prepare fresh Columbia River walleye:

Northern Fingers

If you want a nice snack for the kids (or even adults) to enjoy, then Northern Fingers are something to munch on! Pair this recipe with fries to make fish and chips to make a meal out of it.

Here are the ingredients:

• Vegetable oil for frying
• 900 grams of skinless walleye fillets
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 ¼ cups of salted pretzels
• 3 tablespoons of hot sauce
• 3 tablespoons of beer

These are the instructions to follow:

1. Put the salted pretzels in a Ziploc bag, breaking them until they are finely crushed crumbs.
2. In a bowl, beat the 2 eggs, bear, and sauce using a fork until it is mixed well.
3. Cut your walleye filets into 1-inch wide strips, then pat it dry with tissue.
4. Dip the walleye strips into the egg mixture and place it in the bag with the pretzel crumbs. Shake the bag until the walleye strips are covered completely.
5. Pour vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet, pouring until it is ¼-inch full. Heat the oil in medium-high heat.
6. Add your walleye strips, cooking for at least 3 minutes until it is golden brown. Flip the strips just once.
7. Serve immediately and enjoy with a dip and fries, or any other favorite siding of yours!

Crispy Baked Walleye

You will love this recipe if you love the taste of crispy breaded fish without needing to fry it! It’s a bit healthier and you still have the same crunch as deep-fried fish.

Here are the ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon of water
• 1/3 cup of dry bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup of potato flakes
• 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 teaspoon of seasoned salt
• 4 walleye fillets (4 ounces each)

These are the instructions to follow:

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Grease a baking sheet.
3. In a bowl, beat the water and eggs together until it is a smooth mixture, and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, potato flakes, parmesan cheese, and seasoned salt together until mixed well.
5. Dip your walleye fillets in the egg mixture, and then press it to the bread crumb mixture.
6. Place your prepared walleye fillets on the greased baking sheet.
7. Bake the fillets in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes. You will know the fish is ready when it is opaque in the middle, flaking easily using a fork.
8. Serve with sauce and your favorite side dish. Enjoy!

Hot Walleye Dip

Besides frying and baking walleye, did you know that you can make it into a dip as well? This tastes delicious and goes well with chips or even used as a spread for sandwiches and on bread for appetizers!

Here are the ingredients:

• 340 grams of walleye
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of paprika
• 1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons of hot sauce
• ¼ cup of green onion, chopped
• ¼ cup of fresh parsley, chopped
• ½ cup of bread crumbs
• 1 cup of parmesan cheese

These are the instructions to follow:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Melt your butter, adding the chopped onions and walleye after. Cook this mixture for around 5 minutes, or when the walleye are cooked.
3. Using a spatula, flake your walleye then stir the butter and onion together. Set this aside.
4. Mix your cream cheese with mayonnaise and cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Then, add the lemon juice, paprika, parsley, and hot sauce. Stir this mixture well.
5. Press your cream cheese mixture in a baking dish or pie pan. Add the walleye flakes on top of your cream cheese mixture, pressing it with the cooked onions.
6. Top it off with parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs, as well as a pinch of paprika.
7. Bake this at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or once you see it hot and bubbling.
8. Take it out of the oven and serve with bread and/or chips. Enjoy!

Wrapping It Up

Catching walleye is fun, especially when you’re on a fishing charter learning the ropes. Do you know what else is just as fun? Cooking it and showing off your catch and delicious dish to family and friends right after!

Hope you got a ton of inspiration and ideas from these yummy recipes you can make with walleye! If you’ve caught walleye or plan to catch it when in the Columbia River, keep these meals in mind to try out once you get to the kitchen.